The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 265: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

238 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“‘ And now there are two,” said Mr. Fossilton; ‘‘ therefore I may at once take my mummy home. Here, Mr. Bealby, is the amount agreed upon, twenty pounds,” and the old archeologist, producing his pocketbook, drew forth the bank- notes from amidst a profusion of documents, all relating to his favourite science, especially a copy of a speech of seven hours’ duration which he delivered at the last meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Ben Limber now understood it all, and he perceived in what an awkward dilemma his friend Bealby appeared to be placed. But Mr. Bealby had by this time made up his mind how to act, and he therefore said, with great coolness, ‘‘ Well, Mr. Fossilton, since you are in such a hurry to become pos- sessed of the mummy, we will conclude the bargain at once. Here it is,’”’ and he opened the trunk to which it had been consigned on being taken from the glass case. “ Well, dear me! ”’ exclaimed the landlady, ‘‘ I thought it was in that package which was already done up to be re- moved.”’ ‘“T wish, ma’am,” said Bealby, ‘‘ you would have the goodness to leave me to manage my own business.” “Oh, well, sir, I’m sure I don’t want to interfere,’ said the landlady, tossing her head indignantly. ‘‘ I was only helping to the best of my ability: but I hope I may never speak another word if you didn’t say just now, or leastways give us all to understand, that the big package yonder — ” ‘‘ There’s something strange in all this,”’ said Mr. Fossilton. “Are you sure it’s the same mummy you are now selling me, — the same that used to stand in the glass case — ”’ ‘“‘ Look you, Mr. Fossilton,’’ interrupted Bealby, “‘ a few words will explain it all. I have got some articles of a delicate and peculiar kind which I have sold to a gentleman, and I have packed them up in the glass case. For that reason I put the mummy into the trunk. Your profound knowledge will show you that it is the same mummy. Here it is, with its wrappers, — I forget how many years old you pronounced it to be.”’ ‘“‘ Well, well,’ said the old gentleman, who in the mean- time had been carefully examining the mummy through his green glasses, “‘it certainly does seem the same; it is no doubt all right. And now let it be conveyed in that trunk. ‘Here, ma’am,”’ said Bealby, thus hastily whispering to ECORNICIOOKS (E(0)